Sir Mick Jagger joins 200 public figures calling for Scotland to stay in the UK

Rolling Stones singer joins more than 200 celebrities and public figures
including Dame Judi Dench, Tom Daley and Sir David Attenborough to sign open
letter to people of Scotland asking them to vote No to independence

Mick Jagger, Jenny Agutter, Joan Bakewell and Eddie Izzard are among the signatories calling for Scotland to stay in the UKPhoto: Clara Molden/Rex Features/PA

“What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let's stay together.”

The awards amassed by the signatories include 18 Olympic gold medals, 44 Bafta awards, one Nobel prize and two Turner prizes.

Sir Steve Redgrave, the rower, Sting, the singer and Sir Patrick Stewart, the Star Trek actor have also lent their name to the campaign.

Organisers of the letter hope it will be seen in Scotland as an appeal by the rest of the UK not to leave the union.

Dan Snow, the television historian, co-organised the letter with historian Tom Holland. They will now travel England and Wales encouraging members of the public to sign the letter before bringing it to Scotland at the end of the summer.

Mr Snow said: “I feel passionately about Britain and everything we've achieved together throughout our long shared history across these islands. I don’t have a vote in the Scottish referendum but I certainly have a view and I really hope that our shared country stays together.

He added: "This letter is for people who don't have a vote in the referendum. They are from Northern Ireland, Wales, England they love in the UK and they want to simply say we are not telling you how to vote but when you do vote we hope you don't go."

"I think some things are too important to be left to Politicians.... I like to get involved in issues that are about citizens and about the shape of our country. This is he biggest potential change to our county for generations and it will affect generations to come.

"We don't have a vote which is totally fine, I'm a huge supporter of people's right to decide the conditions and government in which they live, but we have a right to say we hope you stay."

Ben Fogle, writer and broadcaster, who helped to launch the letter agreed some people would attack English people for appearing to lecture Scots on whether to stay or leave the Union, but said that the debate must not become "hysterical".

He said: "We do have an opinion and are allowed to voice it. I've been shot down in the past for doing so."

"It shouldn't be hysterical, this is the most important thing that will happen in our lifetime in terms of our indentity with the union. I'm not allowed a vote but I'm allowed an opinion," he added. "That's liberty, that's part of living in democracy."

"From having dipped in to the debate before, the general consensus is that of you're not Scottish and you don't live in Scotland you shouldn't have an opinion and I don't agree with that. It's part of the human make up, of who we are, to have an opinion and that's what this is about. It's about saying I genuinely feel we are better together."

June Sarpong, the television presenter said the letter was a chance to counter the staid political campaign and bring a bit more emotion into the argument for keeping the union.

She said: "The campaign has not been about the people. We have not heard from the people of the country, so that's what this is about, it's important that you see every day folk talking about what this means to them.

"It's been all about the politicians. It distances people and desensitises people."